Grand Tour: HUNGARY & ROMANIA

Several strikingly different birding areas in Europe make this journey a GRAND TOUR! The combination of such interesting areas as Kiskunság & Hortobágy National Parks in Hungary and Transylvania in Romania will be most rewarding. Add to this several days in the Danube Delta and on the Black Sea Coast, including 2 days on a luxurious Floating Hotel with en-suite facilities and you have a truly great adventure!If you are looking for something really exciting and original, you are warmly invited to participate in this tour! During the trip you will encounter several different habitats thus your bird list will contain amazingly varied species.

Transylvania & the Carpathian MountainsThe beautiful landscapes covered by dense woods offer many sought after species such as Dipper, Nutcracker, Wallcreeper, Rock Bunting, Hazel Grouse, 8 species of woodpeckers. There is an optional Bear Watching possibility from professional hides as well.

Danube DeltaThe Danube Delta is for those who enjoy spectacular birdwatching: huge flocks of White and Dalmatian Pelicans, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill,waders, cormorants, reedbeds full of warblers, lakes and marshes full of ducks, herons, egrets and ibises. Woodpeckers, Hoopoe, Roller, Bee-eater and Golden Oriole are plentiful.

Activity level

Optional programmes

Itinerary

Day 1-2

At Budapest Airport our English speaking guide meets us. During the afternoon we check en route for Imperial Eagle, as we travel to the famous Hortobágy National Park where we explore the marshes, fishponds and grasslands to look for Pygmy Cormorant, Ferruginous Duck, Long-legged Buzzard and Saker Falcon. Red-footed Falcon, Great Bustard and Stone-Curlew is also possible.

Days 3-4

Travelling towards the Romanian border we pass through the city of Debrecen where we stop to enjoy the woods that attract many species of woodpeckers. In Transylvania we visit the spectacular Turda Gorge, looking for Golden Eagle or a late Rock Thrush.

Days 5-6

We reach the Fagaras Mountains in the Southern Carpathians, where we should see Three-toed Woodpecker and Nutcracker. At Zarnesti we search for Eagle and Ural Owl, Wallcreeper and Chamois. Optional programme can be an evening visit to a bear watching hide. with a very good chance to see the largest carnivore of Europe.

Day 7

We travel to the town of Sinaia in the Bucegi Mountains where we look for Wallcreeper and Alpine Accentor. A small detour can be made to see "Dracula's Castle" near Bran which would be an optional programme..

Days 8-9

We will be birding and raptor spotting whilst travelling to Mamaia on the Black Sea coast. We drive via Bucharest and we pick up the guests joining us here. Those on the 8-day trip will leave us here as well. On the coast we visit Histria and Vadu for White and Dalmatian Pelicans, Pygmy Cormorant, Ruddy Shelduck and Paddyfield Warbler in the reeds.

Days 10-12

We head north towards the Danube Delta crossing Babadag Forest home to Levant Sparrowhawk, Booted and Lesser-SpottedEagle and Sombre Tit. At Enisala we have another chance to enjoy the spectacle of pelicans! We arrive to our floating hotel in Tulcea and we spend 2 full days birding along the rich waterways of the Danube Delta! We expect to see Grey-headed Woodpecker, hundreds of Dalmatian and White Pelicans, Pygmy Cormorants, Herons, Egrets and many more.

Days 13-14

We leave the boat and head for the Macin Hills to look for Pallid Harrier, Long-legged Buzzard and Isabelline Wheatear. We also visit Cheia Gorge to search for Pied Wheatear and raptors.